Commitment
Playing select soccer is enormously fun. However, parents and players must realize that playing select soccer does come with a price. Playing with the Rampage requires a significant commitment. Regardless of talent level, if you aren't able to make the time commitment that our team expects, select soccer may not be right for you. It is essential that both the player and parent be committed to the team. It is important to understand that when you sign up with a GSA team you are signing up for a 1 year commitment. During the calendar year, we will spend ~nine plus months practicing and playing soccer. I expect players to work on their skills at home as well as at practice. Coming to practice once in a while is not acceptable. I understand that we all have other lives, but players and parents must make every effort to come to all practices and games (two 90+ minute practices per week, typically 1 but occasionally as many as 5 games per weekend during the Fall and Spring). We also, encourage players to participate in clinics and camps, and we will spend a number of weekends each year at tournaments away from home. You should recognize that there is a financial as well as time commitment in select soccer.
At the same time, we want all of our players to be well rounded individuals. We encourage you to play other sports, participate in other activities, and of course do well in school. These should all be high priorities. However, you must be realistic about what is possible. While you can certainly play select soccer and, for example, City League basketball at the same time. It may not be realistic to play both AAU (travel) basketball, select soccer, and play trumpet in the marching band at the same time. If you choose to do too many activities, and as a result must give up coming to our practices and games on a regular basis, you may be asked to reconsider playing for the team so that a player that has more time to dedicate can be added to our roster. (That being said, I'll bend over backwards to do what I can to help.) I also, never expect players to sacrifice school for soccer!
Another aspect of commitment is how players (and parents) prepare for soccer games, particularly tournaments. The cost of a tournament is around $300-$600 for registration alone. In addition, hotels, meals, and travel costs for the entire team are on the order of $2000. In addition, your team mates (and coach) are counting on you. Thus, I expect all players to make the most of those soccer weekends. What that means is that players need to take my advice seriously about nutrition, getting to bed early, and having a certain focus for those events. Staying up late, eating ice cream or double whoppers with cheese just before a game, and goofing off during warmups is not commitment. So have some discipline in your diet, get to bed early, come to games and practices on time, and have your soccer face on.
If you feel that the commitment is too much at times, I can respect and understand that and will do everything I can to assure that you and your child enjoy your experience with the Rampage. I allow players to have time off if it is necessary, but it requires that you communicate with me and give me advance notice, so I can arrange for guest players, etc. if necessary. I emphasize that I do not penalize players who need time off. I do not, however, tolerate situations where parents complain about the commitment to other parents, etc., but do not communicate their issues with me. Please be forthright. You should also be fair in understanding that while you may feel our schedule is a lot, I always have parents and players for whom the schedule could never be too much. While I try to strike some balance, my job as a coach is to give those with the highest level of commitment the opportunity to excel and reach their potential. This means that we maintain a full schedule of practices and games 9+ months a year, and provide players plenty of opportunity to participate in extra workouts, camps, clinics, etc. I post schedules as far in advance as I can and need you to communicate any issues or conflicts that you have with the schedule as early as possible.
If
you simply love soccer and want to make this commitment, you've got the attitude
we're looking for. The rewards of playing at this level are great! Competitive soccer
is tremendously fun. It helps build great relationships between players and families,
while developing great sportsmanship, work ethics, as well as soccer skills. Players
that work hard at developing their talents have the greatest odds to achieve higher
levels of success in soccer, and more importantly life.